We have another powerhouse panel to announce at this year’s Founders+Funders Summit! 🔴 Well-versed Innovators and business leaders will take the stage for a conversation exploring how the skills learned in competition translate into building successful ventures. This panel brings together founders who have launched game-changing sports startups and investors shaping the industry’s future. Meet the lineup: 🎤 Kate Harmon - Moderator, Assistant Vice President and Director, University of Cincinnati's Center for Entrepreneurship 💡 Nate Thompson - Co-Founder & Managing Partner, HTX Sports Tech ⚙️ Dustin Grutza - Founder & CEO, CraftForce 🎥 Tom Gelehrter - President & Founder, 4th Floor Creative 🦾 Abby McInturf - Co-Founder, Band Connect 🖊 Register for this session and others at this year’s summit here: https://bit.ly/4mKdNrY 📍 1819 Innovation Hub, 2900 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 🗓 October 24, 2025 #FoundersandFunders #FoundersFunders #FoundersFunders2025 #Innovation #Entrepreneur #Founder #Funder #UC #UCAlumni #CincinnatiInnovationDistrict #CincinnatiInnovation #CincinnatiEcosystem #1819InnovationHub
About us
The University of Cincinnati's front door and the point where students, researchers and businesspeople connect for inspired problem-solving.
- Website
-
https://innovation.uc.edu/
External link for 1819 Innovation Hub
- Industry
- Higher Education
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Headquarters
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Type
- Educational
Locations
-
Primary
2900 Reading Rd
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Employees at 1819 Innovation Hub
-
Mark Dorfmueller
Analytics, Supply Chain, Digital Innovation & Global Shared Service Executive | Member of Centric Consulting CIO Services | Executive Board Advisor…
-
Marvin Abrinica
Director of Startups, CEO Wunderfund, Co-Founder of Esoteric Brewing Company, ex-P&G
-
Benjamin S Jones
Innovator | Object Maker | Educator. We make makers.
-
Kara Uchtman, P.E.
Strategic Leader | Startup Operator & Product Builder | Bridging Research, Technology, & Business Impact | AI, HealthTech, Human Design
Updates
-
The intersection of sports & innovation is coming to Cincinnati‼️ The Founders+Funders Summit returns to the University of Cincinnati for a day focused on sports design, sports entrepreneurship, and a deep dive into the business of college athletics, featuring experts from the UC Athletics team. Let’s Reign❗️ Read the full story on what to look forward to here: http://bit.ly/43gL9HU 🖊 Register for this session and others at this year’s summit here: https://bit.ly/4mKdNrY 📍 1819 Innovation Hub, 2900 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 🗓 October 24, 2025 Jeff Berding, Stephanie Pilat, Bruce Miller, Geoffrey Baldwin, Amy Lukas, Kate Harmon, Nate Thompson, Dustin Grutza, Tom Gelehrter, Abby McInturf, John Cunningham, John Daniel, Maggie McKinley, Ryan Holmes #FoundersandFunders #FoundersFunders #FoundersFunders2025 #Innovation #Entrepreneur #Founder #Funder #UC #UCAlumni #CincinnatiInnovationDistrict #CincinnatiInnovation #CincinnatiEcosystem #1819InnovationHub
-
Never losing sight of the life-changing work happening throughout our ecosystem, this Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re celebrating the scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators using knowledge and action to change the treatment landscape! 🎗️ The University of Cincinnati John and Gladys Strauss Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and director of the Breast Cancer Research Program, Dr. Xiaoting Zhang, is using RNA nanotechnology to target treatment-resistant breast cancer, and he’s bringing it out of the lab and into the real world through his startup, RNA Nanotherapeutics. Our Venture Lab and Tech Transfer teams took part in turning this groundbreaking research into a viable company, protecting the intellectual property and helping Dr. Zhang to move his discoveries toward patient impact. The future of breast cancer therapy is being shaped in Cincinnati, and we’re proud to be part of it! 💡 Read more about this impactful research here: https://bit.ly/47bSJEQ #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #1819InnovationHub #VentureLab #UCCancerResearch #RNAtherapeutics #CincinnatiInnovation #HealthcareInnovation
-
Sensory Robotics has officially planted roots here at 1819, and their robots are already hard at work! The space is now a fully functional lab developing 3D sensing systems designed to help humans and robots work together more safely and efficiently. “What makes this place truly special is its people. Everyone shares. Ideas spark just from a conversation in the hallway. A quick introduction can open a new door, and there’s always someone ready to help you grow. That kind of energy has fueled our progress. The partners show up, make connections, challenge our thinking, and help everyone move forward.” - Mark Gagas, COO of Sensory Robotics 💡 Their research and innovations are shaping the global conversation around advanced robotics in the workplace, and we’re thrilled to work alongside their team (and their robots)! 🤖 Be sure to check out Sensory Robotics’ recent feature on WCPO as well: http://bit.ly/42J2fOu Curious about the collaboration happening at 1819? Learn more about all of our innovative partners here: https://bit.ly/4nP4Dvn Chris Edwards Tristan Fogt Dan Junker ryan hays RJ Sargent Lisa Forbes #RibbonCutting #SensoryRobotics #Partnership #1819InnovationHub #GrowCincinnati #UCStudents #UniversityOfCincinnati #CincinnatiInnovationDistrict
-
We’re fired up to announce our first panel at this year’s Founders+Funders Summit! 🏈 ⚽️ 🏀 The Future of Sports Design will explore how innovation, culture, and technology are shaping the next era of athletic experiences. Joining the conversation are: 🔴 Stephanie Pilat - Dean of University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning 🔴 Bruce Miller - Chairman & CEO of Populous 🔴 Geoffrey Baldwin - Founder of WIN WIN Athletics 🔴 Amy Lukas - Founder of Infinite Scale From stadium and facility design to fan engagement and digital innovation, these leaders are redefining what the future of sports looks like, on and off the field. These leaders are redefining what the future of sports looks like, including product design, stadium and facility development, fan engagement, and digital innovation! 🖊 Register for this session and many others at this year’s summit here: https://bit.ly/4mKdNrY 📍 1819 Innovation Hub, 2900 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 🗓 October 24, 2025 #FoundersandFunders #FoundersFunders #FoundersFunders2025 #Innovation #Entrepreneur #Founder #Funder #UC #UCAlumni #CincinnatiInnovationDistrict #CincinnatiInnovation #CincinnatiEcosystem #1819InnovationHub
-
-
Momentum was soaring in Cincinnati’s entrepreneurial community, and StartupCincy Week 2025 proved it! The ecosystem was electrifying with founders, innovators, and industry leaders celebrating the city’s rise as a national startup destination. Here are a few takeaways we’re bringing back: 💡 Collaboration wins: Startups like Airtrek Robotics emphasized how mentorship, seed funding, and partnerships at 1819 helped them grow faster than they ever imagined. 💡 City as a Lab: Cincinnati’s programs allow founders to test solutions to public challenges, from AI tools to aviation safety, creating real-world impact. 💡 Talent stays here: By connecting students and founders to resources, mentorship, and companies, Cincinnati’s ecosystem proves it’s a place where ideas and people thrive. Be sure to read the full article so you don’t miss anything from the week: https://bit.ly/435EPmu Thank you, Cintrifuse, for another wonderful week! Aaron Bradley Kate Harmon Tony Almaguer NEXT Innovation Scholars University of Cincinnati's Center for Entrepreneurship #StartupCincy #StartupCincyWeek #CincinnatiInnovation #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Founders #Venture #Ecosystem #Community #Networking #1819InnovationHub #UniversityOfCincinnati #CincinnatiInnovationDistrict
-
-
-
-
-
+1
-
-
We are thrilled to introduce our Keynote Speaker for this year’s Founders and Funders Summit! 🎤 Meet Jeff Berding, Co-Founder of FC Cincinnati! Jeff co-founded the club in 2015, back when they first hosted games at the University of Cincinnati’s historic Nippert Stadium. This led to the team’s rise from United Soccer League (USL) to Major League Soccer in 2019 and culminated in the opening of Total Quality Logistics (TQL) Stadium in 2021. Before joining FCC, Jeff spent nearly 20 years with the Cincinnati Bengals and also served on the City of Cincinnati Council. Join us as Jeff shares his journey in leadership, community, and building organizations that inspire. 🖊 Register for this session and many others at this year’s summit here: https://bit.ly/4mKdNrY 📍 1819 Innovation Hub, 2900 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 🗓 October 24, 2025 #FoundersandFunders #FoundersFunders #FoundersFunders2025 #Innovation #Entrepreneur #Founder #Funder #UC #UCAlumni #CincinnatiInnovationDistrict #CincinnatiInnovation #CincinnatiEcosystem #1819InnovationHub
-
-
The Hub Happenings newsletter is here! Discover bold predictions shaping the next five years, have your voice heard in Cincinnati's making community, and get a front-row seat to University of Cincinnati Founders+Funders 2025. Subscribe now to be part of the movement! 📩
-
Last call for this weekend's largest global hackathon. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Cincinnati are calling on problem-solvers from all backgrounds to take part in this year’s NASA International Space Apps Challenge. ⭐ Build teams with people from all kinds of disciplines and skill sets ⭐ Use open data from NASA and 14 Space Agency Partners to tackle challenges on Earth and in space ⭐ Learn directly from NASA Subject Matter Experts BONUS: There’s a global stage waiting at the end: 📌 Global Nominees: announced Nov 5, 2025 📌 Global Finalists: Honorable Mentions announced Nov 26, 2025 📌 10 Global Winners: announced Dec 18, 2025 👉 Your journey starts here. Don’t miss it: http://bit.ly/4m1PLIt NASA Space Apps Challenge Cincinnati #SpaceApps #NASASpaceApps2025 #LaunchWithNASA #LearnLaunchLead #NASAChallenge #1819InnovationHub #STEM #GlobalHackathon
-
-
Don't miss Kate Harmon, Assistant Vice President of the Venture Lab Services, at her University programming forum at StartupCincy week! 💫 During her session, she’ll dive into the power of entrepreneurship research, explore the challenges and opportunities of collaborating with higher education, and start to imagine what the future holds for students and for the rest of Cincinnati. 🌐 Don’t miss it! If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, be sure to grab them here: http://bit.ly/4gxAfmC #StartupCincy #StartupCincyWeek #CincinnatiInnovation #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Founders #Venture #Ecosystem #Community #Networking #1819InnovationHub #UniversityOfCincinnati #CincinnatiInnovationDistrict
-